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Syracuse jumped up two spots to No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches poll after two wins in three games over the past week. Despite falling 2-0 at home to No. 16 Cornell, the Orange (10-2-1, 4-1 Atlantic Coast) bounced back with a 2-0 win against then-No. 4 Wake Forest and a 6-1 win over Loyola Maryland to clinch their first 10-win season since 2016. 

On Friday against the Demon Deacons, Syracuse outshot Wake Forest 18-10, getting two goals from its opponent’s mistakes. In the 13th minute, forward Levonte Johnson was tripped up inside the box, resulting in a penalty kick. ACC Offensive Player of the Week Jeorgio Kocevski stepped up for the penalty, placing it perfectly in the lower-left corner. 

Eleven minutes later, Christian Curti sent in a cross from the left flank, intended for the head of Lorenzo Boselli. But Wake’s Prince Amponsah mis-headed the ball on his clearance, sending it into his own net to give Syracuse the final goal in the 2-0 win. 

Three days later against the Greyhounds, SU scored two goals within the game’s first five minutes, taking advantage of Loyola’s defense on the wings. The first goal stemmed from the left side with Giona Leibold sending in a low-driven cross which was deflected by the Greyhound keeper. The deflection continued into the running path of Johnson for an easy finish. For the second goal, Boselli sent the ball outside to Anferny Sinclair on the right, who sent in a pass to Nathan Opoku for a tap-in. 

The Orange had five different goal scorers and seven different players record an assist in the victory. Syracuse closes its season with three more conference games against NC State, Boston College and Louisville and one non-conference match against Bucknell.